Electrical point-detector for railways



A. E. HUDD AND G. H. WION. ELECTRICAL POINT DETECTOR FOR RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8. 1917.

1 ,343, 1 33. Patented June 8, 1920.

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APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8, I917.

Patented June 8, 1920.

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APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8,1917.

Patented June 8, 1920.

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nism when operated, or when the switch UNITED ALFRED ERNEST HUD D, OF MELBOURNE, AND GEORGE HARRY WIGN, 0F BRIGHTON, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA.

ELECTRICAL POINT-DETECTOR FOR RAILWAYS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1920.

Applicationjued June 8., 1917. Serial No. 173,659.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALFRED ERNEsr HUDD, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, etc., residing at Whitehall, Bank Place, Melbourne, in Victoria, Australia,and Gnonen HARRY WION, a citizen oi the United States of America, residing at Bellei 'onte, Union street, Brighton, in Victoria, Australia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Electrical Point-Detectors for Railways; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to an electric detection means adapted particularly for application to switch points, and has for an object to providemeans of this character for showing when the said points are properly seated or moved into their respective open or closed positions when actuated by any well known manual or automatic switch point throwing mechanism.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electric detection means. which is adapted to show when the switch points are not in their required positions as de termined by the manual or automatic mechapoints are not returned to their normal determinei'l positions subsequent to automatic actuation by the passage oi? rolling stock thereover. V

The above, and various other objects and advantages of this invention, will be in part (lest the tollowing detailed description of the present preferred embodiment, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawings iorming a part of this application.

in thenccompanyingz; drawings Figure l is a plan of our detector box with its cover removed.

Fig. 2 'is an elevation on line 'R-S of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a plan of the plunger bar, (or its extension) and pivoted lever.

Fig. 4 is a plan, and Fig. 5 an elevation showing one of the levers used. Fig. 6 is.

a plan, and Fig. an elevation, showing the commutator, or circuit controller, Fig. 8 is a plan, and Fig.0 an elevation, showing died in, and in part understood from;

crank details. Fig. 10 is a plan of a sliding bar and Fig. it a plan. of second sliding bar. Fig. 12 is a plan of the plunger bar but omitting the lever. Fig. 13- is an elevation of part of the detector case with its latch closed, and Fig. 14: another elevation thereof with the latch open.

Fig. 15 is a diagram showing permanent way compound points or slips fitted with our invention.

Fig. 16 is a diagram showing electrical connections- In various figures some of the parts have been omitted or broken out for clearness of illustration or to save space.

. Our detector box or casing (see Figs. 1, 2, 13, and 14) has a lid B having a water proofing gasket 36', and has latch lugs 4:3 and holding down bolt lugs 38*.

Box A has guides 2,, 3, havi'ng'bases 2 3 with upstanding sides 2* 3* adapted to receive slotted sliding-bars C, D, 2 3** are bolted, cover plates.

Thebase 21 (Fig. 2) of the detector box is provided with a guide 4 having depending sides P, adaptedto receive a slotted described. Lever G is shown as mounted to lie within slot 7 in the plunger bar E and is formed with a head. (Z so designed that at one predetermined position of bar E it may occupy recess 6 formed in one side of the long slot 7, and at another predetermined position of bar E recess 8 in the opposite side of: slot 7. Alternatively, lever Gr may be arranged to lie outside the plunger bar E, or clear of slot 7 and the headd (or heads as hereinafter set out) may depend from.

lever G and occupy a recess or recesses or pro ect1on or PIOJGCtlOIlS as hereinafter set out. Obviously lever G could be constructed 'with ahead (as d) at each end and recesses in slot 7 to co-act therewith.

The lever-F is located within slots 15 and 16 formed in one, two, or more sliding bars C, D, said bars moving in a plane and direction other than in the plunger bar E, and being connectible by rods and links to the switch points. Lever F is provided with two heads a, a designed to occupy at predetermined positions of bars C, D recesses 11., in, and 11:3, 1 1, formed in opposite sides 01 the long slots 15, 16, in bars C, D; and at other predetermined. positions similar recesses 11 12 and 13 143-, in the opposite sides 01 the said slots. The said construc tion deals with a slotted bar or bars embracing lever F, but the recesses may be formed in the outside edge or edges of said bar or bars.

In the latter case only one head a or c of lever F would engage a recess in one bar, or coacting recesses in two or more bars. ()bviously projections may be employed instead of recesses. Obviously lever F could be made with only one head 6 or 6 the reeesses in slots and 16 being arranged to co-act therewith.

The bar 0 overlies bar D, both being movable independently, and both being provided with bolts 0, c the latter for connecting the said bars to the switch points through 'intern'iediate bars or linl s as is well understood.

Free to oscillate on (or integral with) shaft 5 is an oscillating base plate 23 litted with an insulated contact carrier plate 24.- carrying electrical contacts or segments f, j, g, g, and ]L, h the whole forming a circuit controller or commutator; the contacts being disposed to contact with resilient or spring fingers 2', 7', 7c, Z, m, 71, 0, and 22, mounted on blocks 34-, 3 1 secured. to the base 21 by screws shown, and with'terniinals (1, 1", s, t, a, o, 0.0, and :0, connected with a source of electrical energy by cables or wires led in through sockets or openings 24 instead of flat plates, as 23 and 24, we may employ curved plates, rotatal'ile by any suitable intermediate operating mechanism. The oscillating plate 23 may be proviced with balls 721 rolling on a path 73 (F 7). Beneath the contact fingers i to p, are keeper plates 72 which. regulate the pressure of these fingers on contacts f, 7'", g, and 72., 7b].

Lever F .is connected to the plate 23 by dowels or screws 5 (Figs. 4 and and the lever (l: to said base plate by dowels or screws (5, these three parts coi'istituting a structure oscillating positively as one solid unit, the oscillating being limited by stops (3*, (Fig. 1).

Lever G located within slot 7 of plunger bar it, the head (Z entering recess (3 or recess iii according to the position the bar occupies in the guide 1. As the head (Z of v enters say recess 6 the circuit controller or commutator moves into the left hand position as in Fig. 1; when moved out of recess 6 by the operation 01" the plunger bar E, the head d,-entering that portion of the slot lying between the two recesses,- carries the commutator into (and holds it in) the central or neutral position as in Fig. 6. Finally as it enters the recess 8, the commutator is moved into the right hand position, as will be well understood. The commutator is thus arranged to occupy predetermined positions controlling the flow, and the direction of flow o'lt' electric energy.

As the heads 6, c of lever F enter say recesses 11, 12 13 1 1 the circuit controller or commutator occupies the left hand position as in Fig. 1, when they are moved out of said recesses 11 12 13 14 by the operation of the bars C, D the lever F occupies that position in which its longitiuliinil. axis lies parallel with the longitudinal axes of bars 0, D and carries the connnutator into (and holds it in) the central or neutral position as in Fig. 6.

Finally when the movement of bars (I, D is completed the heads 0, 0 enter the recesses 11, 12, 13, 1 1- the commutator is moved over into the right hand position, as will be well understood.

One or more of such slotted bars may be employed as desired or according to the number 01 point blades our apparatus is desired to operate with or detect.

The base 21 of casing A carries two vertical studs 22, 22 Free to oscillate on stud 22 is a lever or crank 25 which carries a roller 26 mounted on. a pillar arranged to engage with the face z of a striker y carried by and secured to bar C (only one striker is required and may be secured to any of the bars as desired but not attached to more than one bar)the corners i (if being cut away to permit 01 easy contact of striker y with the rollers 26 and 26 This lever or crank also carries a standard 27 having a forked head 28 to receive the looped end of a wire 29 connected to a flanged coil spring holder 30, within which one end of a coil spring 31 is seated, the other end of the coil spring being seated in a similar holder 32 held by a wire 33 looped over a pillar 34- on the oscillating base plate 23, (Figs. 1 and 6).

Similarly a lever or crank, spring and attachment, are provided on the other side oi the oscillating base plate 23, the similar parts being numbered 22 and consecutively from 25 to 33 The function 01 these springs is to impel the circuit controller to assume either of two extreme positions.

Seats 35 (Fig. 6) are provided on which the loops of the wire embracing pillar 34L rest. One or other of these coil springs acts to pull over the oscillating base plate with its contacts to 71,1, into either its extreme right or extreme left position according as the mechanisms are operated.

In Fig. 1 it will be seen that the left hand lever 25 occupies a position unlike that of the right hand lever 25 the difference also applies to the rollers 26 and 26 This is owing to the movements of the bars C and D to the left carrying the bevel surface g into contact with the roller 26, forcing the lever o1-*-cran-k 25to pivot. about the stud 22, and compressing thespringSl which is held thus by the surface 3 of the plate y until through the continued fforward movement of bars C and D the recesses 11 12 and 13 14: occupy a position to admit of the heads 6, e engaging with. the same; and recess 6 of slot 7 in bar E also occupies a position to admit of'the head. ct of lever G engaging with thesame, when: the spring- 31 will impel the controller to its extreme left position-as in- Fig. 1.

hen the bars C and D are moved in an oppositedirection, and: roller 26', is released from surfaces 3 yfitheseparts 25,26, 27, 28 assume the position corresponding to that which parts 25 26- 27 28 1 are shown as occupying in Fig. 1. If the movement of bars C and D be continued the surface 9 will contact with roller 26 and with the same results in respect to spring 31 a-nd'the circuit controller will be impelled to the extreme right hand position, provided all bars C, D, E, are in their proper positions. If any bar C, D, or E fail to complete its travel so as to occupy the positionv described the controller will beheld in a central or neutral position against the pressure of spring 31 or 81 To secure cover- B to case A hinge lugs Z, Z having holes 2 e areprovided to receive pins projecting from lugs on the cover. On the opposite side of lid- B are bolt lugs 37 between which is pivoted. an L shaped link 38 in which is. a hole 39 for the hasp of a padlock. Pivotally attached tolink 38 is an L. shaped lever lOhaving a lip or lips 41 on its short arm and a slot 12 through which the short arm of link 38 protrudes leaving hole 39 clear to receive the padlock hasp. a depending lip or claw 19 with. which the projection or projections 11 engage as in 13, when lever 40 is in the position shown." 1

For the purpose of describing the operation of our invention we assume the parts in Fig. 1 occupy their normal position when the head (Z of lever G occupies the recess 6 of slot 7 of plunger bar E; and the. heads a, e of lever F respectively occupy the recesses 14 11 in bar C and 13 12 in bar D, and the contact plate 24: occupying the position in Fig. 1 over against stop 5*. Conversely the parts occupy their .reverse positions when the head (1 of lever G occupies heads 0, e of lever F respectively occupy the recesses 12, 13 in bar C,and 1 1-, 141 in bar The latch lugs 13 on case A have D, and the contact plate 2 1 occupies a position to the right over against stop 6.

The recesses 14, 11 in bar C--and 13 12 in bar D-i-register with heads e, e of lever F, and recess 6 in bar E registers with head (Z of lever Gr when the points are, say, normal; and the recesses 12, 13, in bar C- and 11', 1 1 in bar D.register with heads 0, e of lever F and recess 8 in bar E registers with head (Z of lever G, when the points are, say reversed.

The said recesses may be so disposed and made of such length as toact upon the levers F and Cr so that when either or all of the bars C, D and E are moved from either their normal or reverse positions by any predetermined amount the said arms, together with the contact plate 24, will be positively forced towardthe central position against the pressure of the springs 31 or 31 i The recesses above referred to may be formed of any'desired length so that any predetermined movements of bar E, bar C, or bar D will force thecontact plate 2 1 to the central position thereby making or breaking circuits, as may be arranged according'to the disposition ofcontact springs as i, is, Z, m, n, 0, and p in relation to the contact segments as 7, 7, g, 9 it, M, as may be mounted upon the contact plate 24;.

An incorrect movement of the plunger bar E or the switch points acting through the bar C, D, will always positively move the oscillating base plate 23 (with contact plate 24:) toward its central position; and thus we obtain the required detection of the condition of a pair of points and its lock.

When the plunger bar E pushesagainst the head (5 of lever G is forces it out of recess 6 or 8 against the pressure of spring 31 or 31 the lever G rides hard on the edges of slot 7 until the spring pressure is released, by movement of bars C, D, connected to the switch points. i

The foregoing description refers to a dctector as applied to a single pair of points and as would be constructed for left hand location. 7 V

Fig. 15 shows an application of our invention to compound points or slips. Two ea h of bars as Cand D with recesses as shown are used, but with the difference that one end of each of the two bars C which lie between the two bars D,is curved, for instance as shown in Fig. 15. Striker 3 is attached as before'to one bar only, preferably the uppermost and the lever F must be deep enough to engage all the said bars. The curved ends of bars C allow upper and lower pivot bolts 66 one in each bar to be clear of p pivot bolts 67 on bars D. recess 8 of slot 7 of plunger bar E, and the c To the bars C are pivoted by bolts 66 two bars or rods 50, 53. Rod 50 is pivoted to the top o'fbar C, and rod'53 is pivoted to;

the bottom of bar C. Rod is pivotally connected to an extension piece 52 attached to switch point 51, which closes on to a rail 70. Rod 53 is pivoted to an extension piece attached to switch point 55 which closes 011 rail 71.

Pivoted to the bars D by bolts 6?, are two bars or rods and 66. Rod 65 is pivoted to the top of bar I) and rod 66 is pivoted to the bottom of bar D. Rod 65 is pivotally connec'ed to the extension piece attached to switch point 61 which closes on to the rail Rod 66 is pivotally connected to an extension piece 6% attached to switch point 67 which closes on to the rail 71.

The extension 52 carries a bracket or lu 56, )ivotally connected to which is a bar 54 pivotally connected to a bracket or lug 58, carried by an extension piece 59 attached to switch point 01, which closes on to the rail 70, thus linking together the blades 51. and 61, and compelling both to move in unison.

The extension 54L carries a bracket or lug (50, pivotally connected to which is a bar 62 pivotally connected to a bracket or lug (35; carried by the extension piece 64: attached to the switch point 67 which closes on to the rail 71, thus linking the switch points and 67 together and compelling both to move in unison. Bars 57 and 6.2 are linked up to any suitable locking mechanism (not illustrated) operated by plunger rod E, an extension of which passes through the detector box and contains slot 7.

The motion of the points will simultaneously operate the bars C and D and the parts in the case A, including the oscillating i use plate 223 with electrical contact springs car ried thereby, thus revealing the positions of the said points whether normal, reverse, or intermediate (that is any position in r. ch the switch points are not home and the roads properly and securely made).

Fig. 16 illustrates an application of our invention in which two complete detector boxes J and K are connected to two separate sets of points o 'ierated by a common lever in. the signal box, but in detector box K the segments g and A shown in. the box J are omitted.

It will be understood that the parts diagrammatized in Fig. 16 are linked up as usual to the parts with which they work and with semaphores or other signa' f means.

The class oi energy may be either alten nating or direct current, and of whatever voltage is desired.

H is a polarized or three position relay luwing terminals l 4.5; terminal 41 i: is connected by .vire .V" to the contact spring 72 ct detector box K, and terminal 415 through wire l/V to spring 0 of same detector. The spring n. of box K is also connected through wire to 0 to 70 of box K through wire XV; p of K to 0 of box J by wire 7 and m of box K to n of box J by wire W Z of box I: to 7c of box J by wire 7 2' of box K to of box J by wire 2) of box J to i of box J by wire and m of box J to Z of box J by wire Vi.

fdpring l of box J is also connected by wire lV to one terminal N (say negative) of a source of electrical energy; and z' of box J by wire to the other terminal P (say positive) of the said source of energy.

The contact carrier of box J is provided with contacts f, 7; g, 9 h, h and the contact plate carrier of box K with contacts 7, f 9 and h.

lVhen the points are in say, the normal position as illustrated the connections will be as follows Positive energy will flow from terminal P over wire W to spring 2' of box J through contact segment f to j of box J; thence through wire to i of box K, through segment f to of box K, and thence over wire W and wire to 44: of relay H, through. a coil or winding 46 to 45 of relay H, over vire W and wire WV to is of box K, through segment 7 to Z of box K, thence over wire W to I; of box J through segment 7" to spring Z of box J thence over wire l to terminal N. WVires -W and W connected to 0 and a of box J are short circuited through segment il The flow of current through relay H causes the latter to operate sov as to close a set of electrical contacts corresponding to the assumed normal position of the rail points.

l l hen the points are in the reverse position to the above the connections will be as follows:-

Positive energy will flow from terminal 1 over wire Vi and to contact 79 of box J, thence through segment f to 0 of box J, over wire to p of box K, through segment f to 0 of box K, thence over wire WV to terminal 45 of relay H, through a coil or winding 4:6 of relay H to 44;, thence over wire to n. of box K, through segment 7 to m of box K, via wire to n of box J, through segment f to m of box J, thence over wire and wire T to terminal N.

Wires and W connected to 7' and 7c of box J are short circuited through segment g of box J. 7

The flow of current through relay H. :auses the latter to operate so as to close a set of electrical contacts corresponding to the assumed reverse position of the rail points.

It will be seen that when the parts were in normal position the current flowed through the coil d6 of relay H in the direction from l lto 4.5, and that in the reverse position the current flowed through the coil 4c from 45 to 44.

Signals governing train movements over points to which box J and box K are attached may have their electrical control circuits taken through either normal or reverse contacts in relay H as may be required, thus detecting that said points are in their proper position for the desired train movement. a

If any condition such as previously outlined causes the base plate 23 ofbox K with its contact plate 24: to occupy a central position all energy will be disconnected from contacts a, 0 of box K and is, j of box K; and further, wires IV and IV will be short circuited between a and 0 through segment it of box K, and between and 7c of box K through segment g of K, thus leaving the coil or winding 46 of relay H disconnected from energy as well as being short circuited.

Assuming another condition in which box K is normal and box J occupies the central position :In this position all energy is disconnected from contacts 76 and 7' of box J, and wires W and are short circuited between and it through segment g of box J thus again leaving the coil 46 or relay H disconnected from energy and short circuited. i

Assuming another condition in which box K is reversed and box J occupies the central position :Then all energy is disconnected from the contacts a and 0 of box J, and wires W and W are short circuited between 0 and a through segment h of box J thus again leaving the coil 46 of relay H disconnected from energy and short circuited. I

Assuming another condition in which box K is normal; and box J is reversed :Then all energy is disconnected from contacts 7' and 7c of box J, and wires W and VV are short circuited between 7' and 7a through segment 9 of box J, thus again leaving the coil 46 disconnected from energy and short circuited.

Assuming another condition. in which box K is reversed and box J normal :Then all energy is disconnected from contacts 02 and 0 of box J and wires and are short circuited between 0 and a through segment 71 of box J, thus again leaving the coil 46 of relay H disconnected from energy and short circuited.

In the foregoing we have described and illustrated mechanism or mechanisms to give effect to our invention, but we do not limit ourselves to parts as shown in the drawings but may adopt modifications without departing from our invention.

What we claim as new and desire Letters Patent for is 1. Detector apparatus for switch points including intersecting bars, levers to co-act with the bars, and a controller to be moved or oscillated about the point of'intersection or" the bars, as and for the purposes set forth. 2. A detector apparatus for switch points including bars movable with the switchl. Detector apparatus for switch points including intersecting bars having slots 'therein and recesses in the slots, levers occupying the slots in said bars and having heads to engage in said recesses, and a controller connected to said levers, substantially as descrihed.

Detector apparatus for switch points including intersecting bars having slots therein and recesses in the slots, levers occupying the slots in said bars and having heads to engage in said recesses, and a controller movable about the point of intersection of the bars and connected to said levers, substantially as described.

6. In a detector apparatus for switch points and their locking mechanism,'the combination of movable bars connected to said switch points and to the locking mechanism, said bars having slots therein and recesses in the slots, levers in the slots having heads engageable in the recesses, and a controller rigidly connected to said levers and rocking with the levers when said bars are moved, substantially as described.

7. In a detector apparatus for switch points and their locking mechanism, the combination. of bars movable with the switch points and having slots therein and recesses in the slots, a plunger bar movable with the locking mechanism and having a slot therein and recesses in the slot, a controller, and a pair of levers rigidly connected to said controller, one of said levers being fitted in the slots in said first mentioned bars, the other lever being arranged in the slot in said plunger bar, said levers having heads engageable in the recesses insaid bars, the levers being rocked by the movement of said bars, substantially as described.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED ERNEST HUDD.

GEORGE HARRY WION.

Witnesses:

. GEORGE Gr. TURRI, FREDA I. CLARKE. 

